NHTSA — Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2002-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer is known for many things, but perhaps it is most famous for its faulty fuel gauge.

This gauge flip-flops more than a politician during election season. Some report that the gauge says "empty" after a fill-up, while others report the gauge says "full" when they're running on fumes. Either way, there's one thing everyone seems to agree on: the darn thing is just wrong.

Following hundreds of complaints and a few accidents allegedly caused by the malfunction, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the issue in May 2011. Unfortunately for frustrated owners, no recall has been announced.

2.7

hardly worth mentioning

Crashes / Fires:

0 / 2

Injuries / Deaths:

0 / 0

Average Mileage:

53,804 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

Trailblazer 6-cyl

82,000 miles

Fuel gauge acts radically going from empty to full. At this time is cause the vehicle to stop and go as if it's out of gas. This has happen at 55 miles an hour to low as 35 mph. This has happen with in traffic almost causing the person from behind to hit me at high speeds. This has happen in a part of the city where a person like me, a white, female, and alone at the time could have lost a lot due to the high crime rate in the area.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

133,486 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I filled the vehicle up to full with gasoline. The bell chimed shortly thereafter and low fuel light, and warning came on showing low fuel. A few days later the check engine light came on. I received a notice from GM in 2013 about a possible problem with early wear of the fuel sensor causing this problem. They covered the expense of repair up to 120,000 miles. We now have 134,000 miles on this vehicle and the problem just came up, so will not be covered by GM. I have read many complaints about this problem with the Trailblazer online, so I know the problem has been identified by GM. I cannot afford the repair at this time and believe GM is not recalling this fuel sensor problem as they should be doing.

Trailblazer

80,000 miles

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the fuel sensor gauge indicated that the fuel tank was half full when the vehicle shut off because the fuel tank was empty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the fuel gauge sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also indicated that the tire air sensor indicated that air in the front drivers side tire was low but after inspecting the vehicle the contact discovered that air in the rear drivers side tire was low. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 80,000.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

Trailblazer 6-cyl

111,936 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was leaving work headed home, and my gas gauge read 1/2 a tank of gas. As I was going up a hill my truck slowly comes to a complete stop. This was a very dangerous place to be in 5pm traffic. Luckily no one was hurt.11.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

75,000 miles

As I was driving home from work I was traveling about 45 mph on 2 lane state route. My fuel low indicator light came on and car shut off immediately. Luckily I was able to get to side of road and get hazard lights turned on before an accident could occur. After filling tank everything seemed normal. Then about 3 months later again the low fuel indicator light comes on and car shuts off immediately. Again I was able to avoid an accident by getting car to side of road and using hazard lights. After this incident we filled the tank and the low fuel indicator stayed lit, then went off, fuel gauge showed full, then 1/2, then 3/4, then low fuel light back on (all this happened in the 12 miles to get home). Now the low fuel light stays on and the only way to know how much fuel is to refuel every few hundred miles and that is wrong.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

Trailblazer 6-cyl

65,000 miles

The gas gauge began to fluctuate from 1/4 tank to "empty" fuel low and the warning chime went off. There was at least 5 gallons of gas in the tank. I clear the fuel used and trip a every time I fill the tank so I always know roughly how many gallons are in the tank. So I knew when the fuel low light came on this was not true. I shut the vehicle off for a minute and restarted it and the fuel low indicator remained on but over the next 3-5 minutes the gauge returned to the 1/4 tank position. This issue occurred 3 more times but has not occurred long enough for me to bring it to the repair shop to show them proof of the fuel indicator or gas gauge sending unit is failing. Since this problem has occurred with other people I wanted to add my complaint to the list as I feel this is an ongoing problem with the Trailblazer line and im hoping for a full recall. I owned a GMC jimmy before this and the same exact problem occurred with the jimmy. Im waiting for the failure to present itself again so I can take it for repair. But now that I have seen other complaints and see that Chevy has acknowledged it with a 50% off repair offer, im hoping I can just get the repair done. So while no big safety issue occurred, there is potential for it.

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

55,000 miles

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated while driving various speeds the fuel gauge displayed the fuel tank was empty and a chime sounded even though there was fuel in the tank. The defect had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 55,000. Updated 09/05/13

Trailblazer 6-cyl

miles

Gas gauge does not work.. my mother has ran out of gas several times over the past few years because she has to calculate her mileage. It is ridiculous that she has receipts all over the place with miles and gallons written on them. My complaint is if this is a Chevy problem why do I have to pay half to get it fixed" we also own a Chevy hd truck with same problem. Everytime I take my car to get an oil change or repaired people always tell me about other Trailblazer customers who have the same problem! what's up with this"

Trailblazer 6-cyl

70,523 miles

Vehicle stalled in traffic. Found no fuel in system even though fuel indicator noted a half tank. A week after this the low fuel light came on 15 miles after filling the tank. It has been on ever since and will not go off. We now have to keep track of fuel by using the trip computer.

Trailblazer 6-cyl

61,117 miles

I had gone to a friends house and on the way home my power steering malfunctioned. I took the vehicle to a local auto repair shop and was told the power steering cooler had rusted through. I also had to replace this part on my 2003 Trailblazer not realizing there was a problem. If this part rusts out on different years of the same model there seems to be a problem. The vehicle became very hard to steer. I know for a fact that I and many other people have had problems with transmission lines gasoline lines and power steering lines. I had to replace the gasoline line and fuel pump on the 2003, and just replaced transmission line on the 2007. I think there needs to be an engineering change on these vehicles. I also received a recall notice on the 2007 Trailblazer for the electric window switch. The notice said I would be notified when to bring my vehicle in. It has been several months since I received the notice and I am still waiting for notification. It cost me $350 to have the power steering repaired..

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

miles

2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Consumer writes in regards to defective gas gauge the consumer stated the gas gauge needle always read empty and the low fuel light always stayed on. The sealer informed the consumer there was a defect and a recall had been issued. He was informed part of the repair would be paid by GM and he would be responsible for remaining. The consumer stated he never received any type of recall notice in the mail. The consumer stated he should not have to pay for a part that was recalled.

Trailblazer 8-cyl

29,570 miles

The fuel gauge level indicator just went from "full" to "empty", it just went that fast. Minutes before it had just been filled at the gas station. When starting, the gauge rises then falls to empty. On occasions the warning message, "please tighten gas cap" comes on. Now months later, same problem; after contacting "GM" hotline, they still have not shown any concern. I keep track of miles driven since last fill-up and gas used, so I know when it is time to fill-up. I have read many same complaints, and I wonder why "GM" has not issued a recall. It is now 08/21/2012 and problem is still ongoing. Can you please help. Please. "GM" has on numerous occasions suggested that the wire harness on top of the gas tank needs to be replaced, to do so, requires a five (5) hour visit and they expect the customer to pay half the cost. Please help.

Trailblazer 4WD 6-cyl

125,000 miles

Vehicle was parked with all doors locked and the vehicle not running. The remote unlock button was engaged and all doors unlocked with the exception of the driver door. The remote unlock was engaged 3 to 4 more times. The door was manually unlocked from passenger's side. When the door was opened, smoke was pouring out of the inside. We poured available liquids down the window slot but smoke was still pouring out. While my spouse went inside the business where we were parked to grab a pitcher of water, I jerked the plastic oval piece around the inside door handle off and saw flames. He returned with the pitcher and we poured the water down the open hole at the door handle and finally managed to extinguish the flames. We drove the vehicle home but none of the door functions worked at all. It is going to cost me approximately $600 to fix this issue. I have been afraid to drive my Trailblazer since that time. Also the fuel gauge quit working about 3 months ago. We finally fixed that issue today. The next issue to repair after the door is the heat/air actuator as the air conditioning no longer comes thru my air conditioning vents... updated 08-27-12 the consumer also stated the fuel gauge stopped working. Updated 08/28/12

Trailblazer 6-cyl

68,000 miles

I have a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer. After filling the gas tank, the fuel gauge reads "full". as I drive, it steadily drops to about 2/3 full, then it suddenly drops to "empty". as I continue to drive, the gauge begins to rise, and after a few seconds was back to "empty". this repeats now after every fill. As I search the internet, I find that this is a very common Chevrolet Trailblazer problem. Has it become a recall?

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